7 heated Pictionary games, 3 split fingers, 19 nights of sleeping in a tent, 4 galloping horses, 793 falls, and a few gunshots later, I've survived my first bouldering trip. Needless to say, much of my trip had nothing to do with climbing. But I've returned from Hueco Tanks with a greater appreciation for bouldering, Texas culture, and most importantly, ...

I am not a boulderer. I used to love bouldering, but now I love it slightly less. Optimal bouldering conditions (or so I hear) exist when icicles begin to form inside your nose. You have to carry around giant pieces of foam, which bystanders think are elk saddles, and which prevent you from sneaking through small crevices or between trees. It hurts my body. And ...

[caption id="attachment_192" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Hayden, Colette, Emily, myself, and Jen at the Ouray Ice Festival. I tried ice climbing for the first time, top roping the easiest route in the Ice Park with only two falls. Needless to say, I won't be converting to ice any time soon.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_195" align="aligncenter" ...

Sometimes I love climbing, and sometimes it's not my favorite. I have to ask myself two questions to determine whether I actually enjoy ascending rocks, or whether I'm just climbing because it's familiar and I feel guilty if I don't climb. The first question is, do I have fun climbing even when I'm not climbing well? I've been on both sides of this statement ...

(If you're looking for an update about climbing, this isn't it. Currently, I'm only qualified to speak about climbing in the gym, which doesn't lend itself to a very intriguing story. Instead, you can read about school, which may or may not be of greater interest than climbing in the gym. You can let me know.)
I've always really enjoyed school. I love ...

*There are no pretty pictures to accompany this post. Just thoughts. You've been warned..
This year, the climbing world has experienced an explosion in talent, achievements, and new standards. We're all familiar with Adam Ondra's recent sending sprees. But that's not what I'm hear to talk about. I want to talk about the evolution of women's climbing. Last ...